Mechanism for driving webs of material



Feb. 16, 1937. R. c. LA BORDE ET AL 2,071,076

' I l MECHANISMFOR DRIVING WEBS 0F MATERIAL Original Filed April 16, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 wd-. 6 d

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INVENTORS: Baker! Li la florde and Era '0! 671 001 81,

7 1mm ATTORNEYS Feb. 16, 1937. R. c LA BORDE ET AL 2,071,075

MECHANISM DRIVING WEBS OF MATERIAL Baker! 6 La Bank and Brawl! drawer,

1937- R. 0. LA BORDE ET AL I 2,071,076

MECHANISM FOR DRIVING WEBS OF MATERIAL Original Filed April 16, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 a Z 1 i L ,{PX 1'" I 6: ll M l;

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BY i I v M i" W AITORNEw Patented Feb. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MECHANISM FOR DRIVING WEBS OF MATERIAL York = Application April 16, 1932, Serial No. 605.772 Renewed August 2, 1934 18 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanism for driving webs of material under conditions which give rise to changes in tension of the web. Such conditions are encountered, for instance, in the movement of ticker tape. The principal object of the invention is to provide a drive suitable for the conditions indicated which shall be of simple mechanical construction and controlled by means responsive to the tension of the web to interrupt and restore the drive while permitting the use of a continuously operating drive roller.

More particularly, the invention has for its object to provide a drive having the characteristics set forth above and in which a floating idler roller normally rests by gravity on the web and continuously operating drive roller and is movable out of such driving relation by means responsive to the tension of the web, in which said disen- 20 gaged relation the floating idler roller is likewise maintained by gravity.

A further object of the invention is to accomplish the stated objects by means of an idler roller which is mounted with its axis parallel to the fixed axis of the drive roller and with freedom for lateral movement to restore and interrupt the drive of the web while held against unrestricted axial movement.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in combination with the elements employed a guide for the web on which the idler roller rests when out of engagement with the driving roller, this engagement between the idler roller and said web guide serving to hold the web against longitudinal movement until the driving engagement of the several parts is restored.

A further object of the invention is to provide in combination with an intermittent feed for a traveling web a continuously operating drive oi the general character set forth above and in which driving engagement between the rollers is maintained so long as the tape is fed, and is interrupted by web responsive means when said feed dwells.

Other objects of the invention which will appear at greater length hereinafter include the provision of mechanical drive mechanism which is inexpensive to manufacture, simple to install and service, and invariable in operation being wholly free from the recognized objections to mechanism which includes electrical elements, automatic clutches, pneumatic apparatus, or complicated mechanical linkage.

Reference is now to be had to the accompanying gs 1 an u d rst nd g f two practical embodiments of the principle on which the invention rests and in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the improved drive and indicating one relation thereto of a web to be fed and also a schematic representation of what will be regarded as a feed for the web which travels intermittently.

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation and on a larger scale of the drive shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detailed view in plan of said drive.

Figure 4 is a detailed view in side elevation and somewhat schematic showing the idler roller in driving relation to the web and feed roller.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing the idler roller in such relation to the feed roller as to interrupt the drive, the web responsive means having changed their-position to accomplish this interruption.

Figure 6 is a detailed view in transverse section through the improved drive mechanism and taken on the plane indicated by the line 6-6 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but showing the rollers in such relation as to cause interruption of the drive.

Figures 8 and 9 are views similar generally to Figures 4 and 5, respectively, but showing a somewhat modified construction.

It is desired to emphasize that the improved drive involves a principle which may be embodied by one skilled in the art in mechanism adapted for use in varying relationships to other mechanisms, such adaptations involving merely transposition or reversal as to some of the elements to serve the purpose. The operating condition which the invention contemplates is a traveling web which moves intermittently. The invention is not concerned with whether the web thus travels to the improved drive or whether the web travels from the improved drive to an intermittent feed. Obviously, the direction of travel will determine the relationship of parts in order to accomplish the principal object of the invention which is to use with an intermittently traveling web a continuously operating drive with means responsive to the tension of the web to positively interrupt and restore driving action of the continuously operating driving roller. In the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings it has been elected to illustrate a traveling web which. may, for instance, be a ticker tape moving to the improved drive. The

invention is not concerned with how the tape is fed thereto nor with what devices may be associated with the tape in its travel.

With this understanding reference is now to be had to Figure 1 in which there is illustrated a main support a on which is secured a bracket b, all of the elements of the improved drive being assembled on said bracket for convenience and economy in initial assembly and installation. It is assumed that the web 0 travels intermittently from a suitable feed mechanism illustrated schematically at d and is to be discharged through the main support a, a suitable guide for the tape indicated generally at a passing through said support for the purpose of delivering the tape at the desired point.

The driving power is illustrated as an electric motor 6 supported on the bracket 1) although it will be understood that the invention is not concerned with the character of the drive, it being assumed that power is to be delivered to the feed roller to operate it continuously. In the drawings the electric motor e is shown as driving a shaft 6' which delivers its power through bevel gearing e to a shaft 7" journaled fixedly in spaced parallel plates g secured to the bracket b. On' the shaft ,f is carried the drive roller f the surface of which may beof any suitable form to give the most efficient drivingengagement with the web 0 which passes over it. The roller I may, of course, be separate from the shaft 1 and splined thereon or may be integral therewith. In accordance withthe invention it is contemplated that the feed roller f shall be continuously operated without interruption of the power and without disengagement of the feed roller from the power, and that the feed roller shall preserve its drivin'g rela'tionship to the web while means are provided to make this relationship effective to drive the web and to make this relationship ineffective to drive the web, such means being responsive to the tension of the web. This condition is accomplished in accordance with the principle on 'which the invention rests by controlling the relation'to the driving roller 7" of :an

F idler presser roller 11. which normally rests by gravity on the web and on the drivingroller thereby maintaining the web in intimate engagement with the surfacerof the driving roller. and rendering it eifective. This normal relationship is best illustrated in Figures 4 and 6. These figures show that the roller 72 (whose surface may also be serrated or otherwise formed to increase its frictional engagement with the web) presses the web onto the surface of the driving roller 1". The roller h is of such mass that the friction thus maintained under the influence of gravity will be suflicient to insure 'efiective driving engagement. .Further, it will be apparent that the center of mass of the roller h is .at the right of its point of engagement with the web (as viewed in Figures 4 and 6) so that gravity maintains this driving relationship. It might be said that the center of mass of the idler roller falls at the web receding side of the line of contact between the two rollers, the web being assumed to travel from left to right as viewed in Figures 4 and 6. This relationship is desirable because since the .feed roller f turns in a clockwise direction the driving reaction of the idler roller 72. will thus augment the action of gravity tending to hold the idler roller in the desired position. Theidler roller 71. is preferably formed with trunnions h" at its opposite ends which rest freely within "open slots g{ in the bearing plates 0. These slots are so related to the tllmB QI S as to limit lateral movement of the idler roller h. For instance, with the parts shown in the position illustrated in Figures 4 and 6 the idler roller h tends to move further to the right but is checked by engagement with the rounded slots g. The plates 9 further serve the purpose as Will be apparent from Figure 3 of preventing unrestricted axial movement of the idler roller it so that it will keep its proper alignment with the drive roller ,1" and its axis will remain parallel with the axis of the drive roller.

The construction thus far described is one which will provide for continuous drive of the tape 1:. However, the invention is concerned with the driving of a web which travels intermittently. To accommodate itself to such an intermittently traveling web the improved drive mechanism includes means for moving the idler roller h laterally out of driving engagement with the web 0 and the driving roller f. This may be done by various arrangements of elements which are responsive to changes in tension of the web. Those shown are practical and will be illustrative but the invention is not limited to the details of construction nor to the size, shape and particular relationship now to be described. From the foregoing, it will also appear. that the roller it will cooperate with the guide plate 1' and guide a to iron out the vibrations transmitted to the tape mainly by the intermittent feed mechanism at at certain times and transmitted to the tape mainly by the slippage resulting between the feed roller f and the tape at other times.

In the construction illustrated in Figures 1-7 there is shown a rocking frame composed of two side plates 2' which may be journaled on the drive shaft f for rocking movement and connected by a plate 2" which constitutes a guide for the tape in its approach to the driving roller. On the plates 2' is secured an extended arm 70 which may be of a single piece of wire reversely bent and having a cross piece is over which the web passes. The plates i are preferably of such configuration as to throw their center of mass to the right of the shaft f on which they are journaled (Figures 4-7) and the mass of the plates is such as to hold them out of engagement with the trunnions h of the presser roller h. In this position the transverse guide plate 2" over which the tape 0 passes is substantially horizontal as shown in Figures 4 and 6. At this time, it will be remembered, the invention contemplates that the tension on the tape 0 is not great, that is to say, the tape is being fed into the driving roller.

Assume now that the tape 0 is not fed forward momentarily. Since the drive roller 1" is operated continuously it will at once set up a tension on the tape 0 and this force will be impressed on the end of the arm is by the tape at the point where it passes over the cross piece k. This force will be impressed on the rocker frame 1 so that that frame will be rocked about the shaft on which it is .journaled. .The upper ends of the side plates 2' will be brought into engagement with the trunnions h of the idler roller h and move the roller laterally to the left. When the center of mass of the idler roller h'falls to the left of its line of contact with the driving roller f the roller 71. will tend to continue its movement towards the left under the influence of gravity. Meanwhile, it will come into engagement with the guide piece 2" which itself has been inclined downwardly by reason of the downward movement of the arm it. Thus, when the idler roller h finds itself resting on the cross piece 2" gravity will maintain it in engagement with the plate. In this position the roller It will no longer be resting on the driving roller i so it will not press the web into driving engagement therewith. However, the weight of the roller It will serve to press the web against the guide plate 2" thereby holding the web against accidental movement longitudinally in either direction. So long as the tension on the tape remains, the parts will be held in the relationship shown in Figures 5 and '7, no driving force being impressed on the web despite the fact that the drive roller 1" continues to rotate. When the web resumes its travel the tension will be removed and the action of gravity impressed on the mass of the rocker frame i will serve to restore the frame to its normal position illustrated in Figure 5 thereby imparting to the roller it its initial impetus to restore it to driving engagement with the web and driving roller, gravity further assisting in this restoration.

In the embodiments shown in Figures 8 and 9 the bearing plates G carry fixedly the transverse guide plate G for the web. This guide plate G is mounted in inclined position preferably so that when the presser roller H rests thereon the action of gravity will be effective to maintain it. The side plates I of the rocker frame are provided with upwardly extending arms I? which are spaced from the upper ends of said plates I so that the trunnions H of the idler roller H rest within slots at the upper edges of said plates. The plates normally occupy the positionshown in Figure 8 so long as the drive is effective. Upon change in tension on the web the idler roller H is moved over to the position illustrated in Figure 9 in which thedriving roller F is no longer effective because of the relationship previously described. In this position of the idler roller H the slots G2 are effective to limit the lateral movement of the roller towards the left just as these slots g limit its extreme positions in the embodiments shown in Figures 4 and 5. When the tension on the web is reduced and the rocker frame, under the influence of gravity, tends to resume its position shown in Figure 8, the arms I engage the trunnions H, respectively, at the outset and give the idler roller I-l initial impetus in its movement to restore driving conditions.

If, as indicated hereinbefore, it be assumed that the improved drive serves to cause the tape to travel from it to an intermittent feed it is evident that the parts may be reversed by one skilled in the art to cause interruption of the drive in accordance with the conditions desired and'will so cause the drive to be restored as conditions require. It is also to be understood that under any conditions of operation the invention is not limited in respect of. the elements associated with the web or tape in its travel.

Reference is to be had to the appended claims for an understanding of the scope of the invention.

What we claim is:

l. A drive for a web of material comprising a continuously operating driving roller in engagement with the web, an idler presser roller mainby gravity in driving engagement with the web and said driving roller, web responsive means to initiate movement of said idler roller from driving engagement with the web and said driving roller, upon change in tension of the web, the gravity pull on the idler roller serving to maintain the idler roller out of "said driving engagement and means to hold the web against movement while-the idler roller is out: of driving engagement withthe-driv'ing roller. g

2. A drive for a web of material comprising a continuously operating driving roller in engagement with the web, an idler presser roller normally resting on the web and'said driving roller with its center of mass at the web receding side of its support on the driving roller, whereby gravity maintains the idler roller in driving engagement with the web and said driving roller, and web responsive means to initiate movement of the idler roller from said driving engagement upon change in tension of the web the gravity pull on the idler roller serving to continue its movement following said initial movement under the influence of said web responsive means.

3. A drivegfor aweb of material comprising a continuously operating driving roller in engagee ment with the web, means to journal said driving roller on a fixed axis, an idler roller normally resting by gravity on said web and driving roller, means to mount the idler roller with its axis parallel to the axis of the driving roller but free to move laterally through a limited range, means to hold the idler roller against unrestricted axial ment of the idler roller into engagement with the said guide plate and out of said driving engagement with the web and driving roller, upon change in tension of the web. Y

5. A drive for a web of material comprising a continuously operating driving roller in engagement with the web, an idler presser roller normally resting on the web and said driving roller means to mount the idler roller with its axis parallel to the axis of the driving roller but free to move laterally through a limited range, a rocker frame having an arm engaged with the web, and means to mount the rocker frame pivotally for operative engagement with the idler roller upon change in tension of the Web, movement of said rocker frame serving to initiate lateral movement of'the idler roller into and out of driving engagement with the web and said driving roller.

6. A drive for a web of material comprising a continuously operating driving roller in engagement with the web, an idler presser roller normally resting on the web and said driving roller means to mount the idler roller with its axis parallel to the axis of the driving roller but free to move laterally through a limited range, a rocker frame, means to mount the rocker frame pivotally in operative relation to the idler roller, said rocker frame having an arm engaged with the web, means to transmit pressure of the web on said arm to the idler roller to move the same laterally out of driving relation to the web and driving roller, the gravity pull operating on said rocker frame to initiate lateral movement of said idler roller upon reduction in tension of the web to restore the engagement of the idler roller with the web and driving roller. i a

-'7. vA drive for a web of material comprising a continuously operating driving roller in engagement with the web, an-idler presser roller maintained by gravity in driving engagement with the web and said driving roller, web responsive means Cir to' initiate movement of said idler roller from driving engagement with the web and said driving roller, upon change in tension of the web, the gravity pull on the idler roller serving to maintain the idler roller out of said driving engagement, and means on which the web is clamped by the idler roller when the latter is out of driving engagement with the driving roller to hold the web against accidental movement.

8. A drive for a web of material comprising a continuously operating driving roller in engagement with the web, means to journal said driving roller on a fixed axis, an idler roller normally resting by gravity on said web and driving roller, means to mount the idler roller with its axis parallel to the axis of the driving roller but free to move laterally through a limited range, means to hold the idler roller against unrestricted axial movement, and web responsive means to initiate lateral movement of the idler roller upon change in tension of the web, the gravity pull on the idler roller serving to continue its movement into and out of driving relation to the driving roller following its initial movement under the influence of said web responsive means.

9. A drive for a Web of material comprising a continuously operating pulling roller in engagement with the web, and a web retarding device free to permit the advance of the web by said pulling roller as it is fed thereto comprising a pivotally mounted bracket, a resilient arm extending from said bracket and rocking as a unit with said bracket about the pivotal mounting of said bracket as a common axis, and a retarding roller operatively associated with said bracket, the bracket and arm being controlled by gravity to maintain said retarding roller in position to permit the pulling roller to draw the web as it is fed thereto, the free end of the arm engaging the web and being responsive to a deflection in the web, in turn to rock said bracket and therewith said retarding roller into web retarding position when the feed of the web thereto is interrupted, said arm being yieldable relative to sai bracket.

10. A drive for a web of material comprising a web puller in engagement with the web, and a web retarding device cooperating with said puller as the web is fed thereto comprising a pivotally mounted bracket, a yieldable arm extending from said bracket and rocking as a unit with said bracket about the pivotal mounting of said bracket as a common axis, and a retarding roller operatively associated with said bracket, the bracket and arm being controlled by gravity to maintain. said retarding roller in position to press the web into driving engagement with said puller to draw the web as the web is fed thereto, the free end of said arm engaging the web and being responsive to a deflection in the web in turn to rock said bracket and therewith said retarding roller into web retarding position when the feed of the web thereto is interrupted, said arm being yieldable relative to said bracket.

11. A web retarding device comprising a pivotally mounted bracket, an arm extending from said bracket, an abutment on said bracket, and a retarding roller rollably mounted on said bracket and adapted to impinge the web being fed thereto against saidabutment, said bracket rolling said roller into and out of web impinging position, one end of said arm engaging the web to respond to a deflection in the web, said bracket and arm normally controlled by gravity to maintain said retarding roller out of web impinging position when the web is fed thereto but responsive to a deflection in the web when the feed of the web thereto is interrupted to actuate said re tarding roller into web impinging relation with said abutment.

12. A web retarding device comprising a bracket, an arm extending from said bracket, said bracket having an abutment, a guiding recess, and a retarding roller rollably mounted in said recess and adapted to impinge the Web being fed thereto against said abutment, said bracket rolling said roller into and out of web impinging position, one end of said arm engaging the web to respond to a deflection in the web in turn to rock said bracket, said bracket and arm normally controlled by gravity to maintain said retarding roller out of web impinging position when the web is fed thereto but responsive to a deflection in the web when the feed of the web thereto is interrupted to actuate said roller into web impinging relation with said abutment.

13. A drive for a web of material comprising a web puller in engagement with the web, and a web retarding device comprising a pivotally mounted bracket, an arm extending from said bracket, said bracket having an abutment and a guiding recess, and a retarding roller mounted in said recess and adapted in one position to impinge the web against said abutment and in another position to press the web into driving engagement with said web puller, said bracket rolling said roller from one position to the other, one end of said arm engaging the web to respond to a deflection in the web in turn to rock said bracket, said bracket and arm normally controlled by gravity to maintain said retarding roller in position to press the web in driving engagement with said web puller but responsive to a deflection in the web when the feed of the web thereto is interrupted to roll said retarding roller 4 into web impinging relation with said abutment.

14. A drive for a web of material comprising a web puller in engagement with the web, and a web retarding device comprising a pivotally mounted bracket having an abutment and a guiding recess, and a retarding roller mounted in said recess and adapted in one position to impinge the web against said abutment and in another position to press the web into driving engagement with said web puller, said bracket being normally controlled by gravity to maintain said retarding roller in position to press the web into driving engagement with said webpuller but responsive to a deflection in the web when the feed of the web thereto is interrupted to roll said retarding roller into web impinging relation with said abutment.

15. A combined web drive and web arresting device consisting of a continuously operating web pulling roller, a web arresting abutment, and means including a pivotally mounted bracket operatively associated with the web in one position to press the web into driving engagement with the web pulling roller and in the other posi tion to free the web from the pulling roller while the operation of the pulling roller continues and press the web into arresting engagement with said abutment.

16. A combined web drive and web arresting device consisting of a continuously operating web pulling roller, a web arresting abutment, and pivotally mounted means operatively associated with the web in one position to press the web into driving engagement with the pulling roller and in the other position to free the web from the pulling roller while the operation of the pulling roller continues and press it against said abutment in web locking engagement with said abutment.

1'7. A drive for converting an intermittent movement of a flexible light transmitting web into a uniform continuous movement at an inspection area free from vibrations and the like comprising a rigid support at the entrance side of the inspection area, a continuously operating drive roller engaging the lower face of said web substantially at the supporting level of said rigid support to facilitate pushing the web across said rigid support to said inspection area, an idler presser roller engaging the upper face of the web and normally positioned directly above said drive roller in position to feed said web to said rigid support and to cooperate with said rigid support to iron out the vibrations transmitted to the web by the intermittent movement previously imparted to the web, and a bracket operatively associated with said presser roller, said presser roller being free to come to rest in said bracket when the intermittent movement of the web is arrested in turn to cooperate with said rigid support to iron out the vibrations then transmitted to the web by the slipping action imparted to the web by the then continuously operating drive roller.

18. A drive for a web of material comprising a web pulling roll and a device responsive to deflections in the web for controlling the pull of the web by said roll, said device including a roller having trunnions, and means for operatively associating said roller with said roll for rendering said roll effective or ineffective as a web puller, said latter means including a pair of plates having slotted guideways with stops formed as part of said guideways at one of the ends of said guideways, the trunnions travelling in said guideways and said stops determining the limit of travel of said roller in one direction along said guideways with an increase of deflection in the web and also determining the position of said roller where it will render said roll effective as a web puller.

ROBERT C. LA BORDE. EVERETT C. POTTER. 

